Feeder for threshing-machines.



No. 643,849. Patented Feb. 20, I900. .1. L. PATTERSON & a. T. HILL.

FEEDER FOB THRESHING MACHINES.

(Application filed Nov. 15, 1899.)

(No Model.)

m: NORRIS FEYERS co, PHOTO LITNO., WASHVNGTON, m a

UNiTEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LTAMES L. PATTERSON, or MADERA, AND GEORGE T. HILL, or MERCED, CALIFORNIA.

' FEEDER FOR THRESHING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,849, dated February 20, 1900.

Application filed November 15, 1899. Serial No. 737,018. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JAMEs L. PATTERSON, residing at Madera, county of Madera, and GEORGE T. HILL, residing at Merced, county of Merced, State of California, citizens of the United States, have invented an Improvement in Feeders for Threshing-Machines; and we hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

ur invention relates to an apparatus which is designed to feed unthreshed straw to the threshing-cylind ers of that class of machines.

It consists of a series of superposed guided boards or fenders standing in inclined planes in a guiding-casing, extending entirely across from side to side of said casing and connected with oppositely-movable cranks, whereby the boards are alternately reoiprocated in their different planes of motion, and means whereby the straw delivered into the upper part of the machine is gradually moved down and fed continuously to the threshing-cylinder by the oppositely reciprocating movements of the feeders.

The invention also comprises the novel construction of a hinged removable feeder-casing through which the mechanism is easily accessible and details of construction, all of which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the figure is a longitudinal vertical section through the feed-box.

The feeder-case A is formed with vertical sides properly connected and supported, and through the rear upper portion extends a shaft 2, having cranks 3 formed in it in pairs, so that one pair of cranks will project from the shaft opposite to the other pair. These pairs of cranks are connected by pitmen 4 with guided slidable pushers 5 and 6, to which they are hinged, as shown at 7 and 8. These boards or pushers 5 and 6 extend entirely across between the sides A, occupying a space approximately equal to the length of the threshingcylinder 9, which revolves so that its teeth pass between those of the concave 10 in the 'usual manner. 7

Above the board 5 is a stationary board 11, which is hinged or otherwise connected and extends transversely across the upper part of the casing, and upon this board the unthreshed straw which is delivered to the machine falls and moves down the incline of the receiving-boards toward the cylinder.

The boards or pushers 5 and 6 are alternately reciprocated in different planes, as shown, the upper board being guided by suitable cleats and the lower board in the same manner, or it may be supported upon shoes which are slidable upon the bottom of the casing.

The upper pusher 5 has an inturned board 12 at the lower end, which, acting in conjunction with the oppositely-moving lower pusher 6, serves to prevent the clogging of the machine by the passing in of large bunches of straw, which is apt to occur by reason of the rotation of the cylinder and its tendency to pull the straw in when the latter approaches it.

The operation of the machine will be as follows: The straw being fed to the machine falls upon the board 11 and the top of the reciprocating pusher 5, and as the pusher is withdrawn the pusher 6 is advanced. A portion of the straw resting upon the pusher 6 is forced toward the cylinder by the next for Ward movement of the pusher 5. Then as the pusher 5 is retracted by the continuous rotation of the crank-shaft the edge of the board 11 prevents the straw from being withdrawn with it, and the pusher 6 being now advanced as the pusher 5 is retracted will force another portion of the straw forward to be drawn in by the threshing-cylinder. In this manner the body of straw is gradually carried in by the successive movements of the overlapping continuous boards 5 and 6.

The bottom 13 of the casing is hinged to the upper part of the concave, as shown at 14:, and the rear vertical portion 15 of the casing, which is connect ed with the bottom, is hinged, as shown at 16, near its upper edge. This allows the bottom and rear of the casing to be dropped away from the feed mechanism by simply disengaging the pivot or connection at 14:, thus allowing the bottom and rear of the casing to be retracted clear of the feed apparatus, so that it can be easily reached for cleaning or repairs.

By this construction we are enabled to provide a feeder which will gradually advance the straw and deliver it to the cylinder and at the same time will prevent large bunches from passing in at once, so as to clog the cylinder and prevent effective work.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A feeder for tln'eshing-machines consisting of a feeder-case having vertical sides, guided pushers placed in vertical series and with one arranged at an angle with relation to the other said pushers extending across from side to side within the feeder-case and overlapping as shown, a shaft having oppositely-disposed cranks formed in it and connection between said cranks and the pushers whereby they are alternately forced forward and withdrawn.

2. In a feeder for threshing-machines, an inclosing case having vertical sides and open top, guided slidable pushers arranged in vertical series and standing at different angles and extending continuously from side to side within the casing, a superposed stationary board extending across the casing above the uppermost of the pushers, a shaft having cranks in opposite directions and rods connecting said cranks with the pushers whereby they are alternately reciprocated.

3. In a feeder for threshing-machines, an open-topped casing having vertical sides,

pushers arranged in vertical series and guided and slidable at difli'erent inclines and extending continuously from side to side within the casing, the uppermost of said pusher-plates having an inturned section beneath its lower edge, a superposed receiving-board extending across above the upper end of the uppermost pusher, a shaft having oppositely-disposed cranks, connecting-rods uniting the cranks with the pushers,the pushers extending above and rearwardly from the hinge-joint.

4. In a feeder for threshing-machines, an open-topped easing having vertical sides, a crank-shaft journaled across the rear of said casin g, pushers guided and slidable at diiferent inclines Within the casing and adapted to alternately force the straw forward toward the threshing-cylinder, a bottom and rear portion hinged at the upper rear edge and having a detachable connection between the front and bottom and the rear upper edge of the threshing-concave.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

J AMES L. PATTERSON. GEORGE T. HILL.

Witnesses:

ARCH. MCDONALD, S. V. VVEsTFALL. 

